Each year, Metropolis magazine spotlights the most promising talent in architecture and interior design through its prestigious Future100 list. This year, three standout students in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the U of A earned their place among North America's top emerging designers.

Daria Hall, Emilie Luce and Sydney Slaughter were selected for their exceptional academic performance, creative vision and compelling portfolios, marking them as rising stars in the field. Their work doesn't just reflect technical skill and aesthetic sophistication — it speaks to a deeper responsibility to shape spaces that are inclusive, sustainable and impactful.

With the Future100 program, Metropolis has set out to designate the top graduating architecture and interior design students in the United States and Canada each year. Fifty interior design and 50 architecture students from undergraduate and graduate programs were chosen by the Metropolis team for the 2025 list and featured on the Metropolis website.

"Their portfolios are awash with beautiful spaces and buildings, but beyond their visual prowess, they demonstrate a deep understanding of their responsibility to make an impact through design," according to a statement on the Metropolis website. "With empathy and maturity, they address community, culture, inclusivity and sustainability through detailed research, fresh methodologies and innovative materiality — establishing their rising-star status and proving their merit as they embark on their careers."

Each nominee submitted a portfolio showcasing their work, which reflected a range of projects developed during their time at the U of A.

Daria Hall

Originally from Yekaterinburg, Russia, Hall came to design later in life after relocating to the United States and returning to school.

"Design always fascinated me, but in my home country, that path felt out of reach," Hall said. "After moving to the U.S. and deciding to return to school, I took a leap of faith — and followed the spark toward design."

Hall said that when she first entered the field of interior architecture and design, she questioned whether she truly belonged. But as time went on, her perspective shifted on not just her career path but about the nature of design itself.

"Over time, through exploration, persistence and the encouragement of faculty, I gained not only skills, but confidence," Hall said. "I now see design as a language I've learned to speak fluently."

Projects such as her first-year desert retreat project and her third-year NEXT office design competition, which she included in her portfolio, encouraged Hall to think beyond convention while also embracing the pragmatic side of design.

"To me, design is a riddle — a puzzle to solve," Hall said. "It fully occupies the mind, but once the solution reveals itself, everything falls into a quiet, beautiful order."

After graduating in December 2024, Hall relocated to Chicago, Illinois. There, she joined IA Interior Architects as a junior designer, where she works in commercial design. Hall said that she has only gratitude for the people and challenges that shaped her time at the Fay Jones School.

"Returning to school as a non-traditional, married, international student wasn't easy — but it was transformative," Hall said. "I discovered my artistic voice and, along the way, formed lasting friendships and connections."

Hall said that her professors have had a large part in her success, challenging and inspiring her every step of the way. Torrey Tracy, assistant professor of architecture and design, nominated Hall for the Metropolis award.

"Daria Hall exemplifies hard work, exceptional talent, curiosity, craftsmanship and a determination to creatively solve problems in the field of interior architecture and design," Tracy said. "Daria's well-rounded approach, technical skills and diverse interests will make her an extremely attractive candidate and a future leader."

View Hall's portfolio here.

Emilie Luce

Before joining the Fay Jones School, Luce said that she hadn't fully realized "how much the built environment dictates our decisions, interactions and overall quality of life." With that awareness, she now approaches each design with a clear focal point, using a central idea or concept to guide her process and ensure a cohesive final product.

"I approach design by first focusing on the needs of the users in that space. Throughout my academic career, I have realized the importance of client-focused projects," said Luce, who's from Flower Mound, Texas. "Once the clients' visions, needs and standards are understood, a design concept can be developed. This concept then dictates every other design decision and helps me circle back to the main goal of meeting the clients' needs."

One of Luce's most meaningful experiences was the NEXT office design competition, which marked her first opportunity to respond directly to client needs and expectations. The project challenged her to think of the day-to-day needs of office life and pushed her to think of design through a more human-centered lens — something she hadn't done at the start of her college journey.

"We don't realize how much the built environment dictates our decisions, interactions and overall quality of life," Luce said. "I now have an appreciation and passion for using design to improve lives and help others reach their goals."

The combination of creativity, problem solving and improving the lives of others is what initially drew Luce to the Fay Jones School, but she says that the students and faculty are what have helped her excel in her career.

"Not only was I able to grow alongside these students but also was encouraged by them and learned from each of their unique design perspectives," Luce said. "The faculty has also had a large impact on my design career, and I would not be where I am today if it were not for the professors that invested in me."

Luce is particularly grateful for Jennifer Webb, associate professor of interior design and architecture, who nominated her for this honor. Luce says that Webb's vast knowledge of design and focus on sustainability helped push her outside of her box as a designer.

"Emilie is present in a subtle, confident manner and with a determination to achieve excellence," Webb said. "She consistently seeks out feedback to make her work stronger during the design process and also seeks feedback following completion to understand how she can improve future works."

View Luce's portfolio here.

Sydney Slaughter

Growing up near Austin, Texas, Slaughter never imagined her journey would lead to the U of A. But after just one trip to Fayetteville, she knew she had found the place she could truly thrive. The campus' beauty and welcoming atmosphere, specifically Vol Walker Hall, solidified her decision to make Arkansas her new home.

Although her academic path wasn't always clear, her passion for interior design and her commitment to creating spaces where people can thrive have remained steady guides throughout her life.

"My passion for creating unique and artistic pieces stems from my childhood, from drawing on walls to experimenting with different mediums on my mother's vintage wood samples," Slaughter said. "The introduction to my mother's interior design business sparked my love for materials, textiles and transforming beautiful space."

One of Slaughter's favorite projects was "The Dane Chair" she created during an interior sculpture studio. Inspired by Danish designers such as Hans Wegner and GamFratesi, Slaughter's design featured rich walnut wood and webbing, both of which are central to Danish craftsmanship.

"The Dane chair stands as a personal memoir of my woodworking journey, a piece I will treasure as a lasting reminder of this creative experience," Slaughter said in her portfolio.

Slaughter was nominated by Jinoh Park, assistant professor of interior architecture and design, who encouraged her to submit her portfolio. Though she was introduced to design at a young age, Park says that Slaughter consistently looks to improve upon what she already knows.

"Sydney has a keen eye for aesthetics and a remarkable ability to absorb and apply new knowledge effectively," Park said. "Her dedication to growth and willingness to refine her skills beyond her natural talent set her apart."

Slaughter has found meaningful mentorship in professors like Park, who have consistently challenged her to see design through a new lens.

"My education has taught me that design is so much more conceptual than I ever thought it was," Slaughter said. "I apply this to my life and designs by being in constant search of new ways to further my creative ideas and imagination."

View Slaughter's portfolio here.